Parents, Teachers & Students Work To Ensure School Funding
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- City parents, teachers and students are fighting down to the wire to make sure city schools are fully funded for next year.
Mary Bubala reports in front of City Hall, members of the Baltimore Education Coalition rallied to keep the momentum going for full education funding for Baltimore City public schools.
"It makes us want to take action and to say we should have a say in it because it's all about us," said seventh-grader Sadie McDonald.
"I think every kid and grade needs a great school," said Ramsay McDonald.
Bobbi McDonald is their mom and the executive director of three city charter schools.
"I am fighting for proper funding for schools," she said.
So far, parents, students, teachers and community leaders have had success in restoring most of the funding for city schools. Close to 2,000 rallied in Annapolis earlier this month, pressuring lawmakers to bring back millions slated to be cut. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake reached an agreement counting the city's contribution for retired teachers' health care as funding for city schools.
But still, there is uncertainty.
"The full cut has not yet been restored and therefore, my civil rights to an excellent education are unfulfilled," said Brianna Wills.
"We have got to make sure that we press forward and say no cuts to public education in the Baltimore City public school system," said City Council President Jack Young.
The legislative session in Annapolis ends on Monday, April 11. The proposed state budget initially reduced funding for city schools by $17 million. Final votes on restoring that funding are still pending.
